Anna, Jonathan, and Coralee welcome baby Zoe!

I have had the pleasure of capturing this family’s journey to expanding their family, so I was thrilled to hear they had a beautiful baby girl, and that she was ready to make her photographic debut.  Anna felt her house didn’t have a ton of natural light, which is key to gorgeous newborn sessions, so we took their session to the park!  I just love the juxtaposition of a brand new baby with the beautiful light and colors of nature.  Bravo to these parents for getting out of the house with a 1 week old newborn and her big sis, and on-time and looking photo-ready nonetheless! 

We had strategized on some props that would be meaningful to them, and Anna selected a drawer from Zoe’s dresser, with a lovely pile of blankets, as well as some pearls that she wore to her wedding and that Coralee wore for her newborn photo session.  Pinterest inspired me to find a comfy tree for the baby to rest, and Anna selected one of Zoe’s quilts that was handmade for her to rest on, wearing a flower crown like the ones mom and Coralee wore for their maternity session!  Coralee had some opportunities to hang out with dad while mom fed Zoe mid-session.  She is such a proud big sister, and I looking forward to seeing this family more as they grow!

Holly and Family

I workout with Holly and Scott at Bodytek Fitness, so I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Gabriel from time to time.  It was even more fun getting to spend time with them today outside the gym when we met at the park to take some family photos with her mom and mom’s hubby, who’re in town for the holidays.  This was another successful session with an active toddler because everyone was relaxed and let Gabriel be Gabriel.  In addition to keeping him interested in some portraits with a favorite bouncy ball and airplane, I was able capture some great candid shots of him with his family.

KoRes Corp Holiday Party 2014

I love event photography, but with event photography, it’s often a one time thing, and you don’t typically get to build the same kind of relationships you do with portrait photography clients whose family growth you get to document.  I had the pleasure of photographing this successful real estate team’s holiday celebration last year, and it was nice to return and see faces that were familiar to me and to see recognition on their faces, knowing who I was as well.  And just as last year, this is a group who knows how to have fun, and who knows how to dance.  Colorful balloons were replaced with colorful lights, and they even invited a stilt-walker to entertain the crowd.  Happy Holidays!

Leigh and Dan’s Engagement Party

This Miami girl has made a life for herself in San Diego, California, and on the West Coast is where she will marry the love of her life.  When they came to visit Miami this past weekend, her parents hosted an Engagement party with family and friends to celebrate their upcoming nuptials.  Many hugs were exchanged, and portraits were taken.  With all these beautiful people, their wedding photographer will have a very easy job on their big day!  Congratulations, and I wish you the best!

Luca’s 7th Super Mario Brothers Birthday Party

Luca’s mom Ina and I first connected almost a year ago, when I ordered photo booth props from her awesome business The Party Event for my hubby’s bday party.  It was a mutual love fest.  I adored her work, and she was fond of mine.  We’ve been following each others’ growth, and she’s been talking about having me photograph one of her events for a while.  It finally happened this weekend for Luca’s 7th birthday party.  When we were coordinating timing, she wanted me to get there early to photograph the decorations and party table.  She thought I would need an hour, and I was like no way, I’m fast, half hour tops!  Boy was I wrong!

I arrived to find a party table with more details than I’ve ever experienced!  I photographed wide angle of the whole set-up, of each table, of each item on each table, and some closer group shots to show how everything came together.  And it did take an hour!  I was blown away by the detail and creativity in Ina’s execution of the theme, and the time she must have spent with all the cut-out decorations!  Really, a 5-star production!

And the theme didn’t stop with the decorations.  Instead of playing video games (which we all know our kids get more than enough of), she brought the game to life with 5 challenges, which the kids would get coins for completing, just like in the real game!  The first challenge was finding “Yoshi eggs”, followed by drawing Mario, jumping on balloons like Mario jumps on the Goombas, finding coins in the sand, and a sack race like when Mario gets one of his suits.  The guests exchanged their coins for party favors, and then they sang to Luca in 3 languages!  Happy birthday dear Luca, happy birthday to you!